Soils and

Foundation
Cheng Liu
Jack B. Evett
6th Edition
in SI Units
Teaching Slides
Chapter 1
Formation of
Natural Soil Deposits
1

Outline

Introduction
Rocks The Sources of Soils
Rock Weathering and Soil Formation
Soil Deposits

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1-1 Introduction

Most structures rest directly/indirectly on soil

Proper analysis of soil and design of structure
foundation are necessary to ensure there is
no undue settling and/or collapse

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1-2 RocksThe Sources of Soils

Soil particles are results

of weathering of rocks
consolidation
and decay of vegetation
Over time, some soil
Soil
Rock
particles become
weathering
consolidated to become
rock
3 types of rocks
Weathering:
Igneous
Various mechanical and chemical
Sedimentary
processes that cause exposed
Metamorphic
rock to decompose.

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1-2 RocksThe Sources of Soils

Igneous rocks
Igneous rocks are formed when magma
cools and solidify
Magma are produced during volcanic
action

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1-2 RocksThe Sources of Soils

Igneous rocks
Cooling process slow
coarse grained
Cooling process rapid fine grained
Most common - granite
Generally hard, dense and durable
High bearing capacities
Good construction & foundation materials

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1-2 RocksThe Sources of Soils

Sedimentary rocks
Formed when particles are transported by wind,
water and ice and deposited to form sediments
Typically deposited in layers
Over time, layers accumulate, pressure on lower
layers resulting from weight of overlying strata
hardens the deposits forming sedimentary rocks

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1-2 RocksThe Sources of Soils

Sedimentary rocks
Deposits may solidify and be cemented by
certain minerals
Most common sedimentary rocks are
Shale
Sandstone
Limestone
Dolomite

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1-2 RocksThe Sources of Soils

Sedimentary rocks
Degree of strength and hardness are
variable
Engineering use varies accordingly

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1-2 RocksThe Sources of Soils

Metamorphic rocks
They are produced when
sedimentary/igneous rocks change their
texture, structure & chemical composition
due to heat, pressure and shear
Can be good construction materials
May contain planes of weakness that lower
the strength
Examples
Marble, Slate

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1-3 Rock Weathering and Soil

Formation

Weathering processes
Mechanical (physical)
Chemical
Type of soils produced largely depends on
type of source rock

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1-3 Rock Weathering and Soil

Formation

Mechanical weathering
Disintegrates rocks into small particles by
Temperature changes,
Frost action,
Rainfall,
Running water,
Wind,
Ice,
Abrasion, and
Other physical phenomena

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1-3 Rock Weathering and Soil

Formation

Mechanical weathering
Cause rock disintegration by breaking,
grinding and crushing
Effect of temperature through expansion
and contraction, causing deterioration &
breakdown of rock material
Freezing of water trapped in rock crevices
expands and breaks rock apart

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1-3 Rock Weathering and Soil

Formation

Chemical weathering
Chemical decomposition of rocks, changing
the physical and chemical properties
Results from reactions of rock minerals with
O2, H2O, H+ and salts

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1-3 Rock Weathering and Soil

Formation

Chemical weathering
These chemical processes can
volume of material, causing material
breakdown
Dissolve parts of rock matter, making it
more susceptible
Reacting with cementing material

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1-4 Soil Deposits

Soils produced from rock weathering are

categorized according to where they are
deposited relative to the location of the parent
rock
2 main types of soils
Residual soils
Transported soils

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1-4 Soil Deposits

Residual soils
This type of soil remains where they are
formed, overlying the rock from which they
came from
Their general characteristics depend in
part on the type of rock they came from
Particle size, shapes & composition varies
widely

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1-4 Soil Deposits

Residual soils
Actual depth of residual soils depend on
Rate at which rock weathering has
occurred
Presence/absence of any erosive agents
that may have carried the soil away

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1-4 Soil Deposits

Transported soils
This soil type is formed when rock
weathers at one site and the particles are
moved to another location
Some common transporting agents
Gravity
Running water
Glaciers
Wind

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1-4 Soil Deposits

Transported soils
Transported soil can be categorized with
regards to these agents
Gravity deposits
These are deposits transported by
efforts of gravity, e.g. landslide
They are generally not carried far away
Tend to be loosely compacted
Little change in general character of soil
material as a result of being transported

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1-4 Soil Deposits

Transported soils
Alluvial deposits
Rainwater falling on land runs overland,
eroding and transporting particles as it
goes
Alluvial deposits are found near rivers as
they are transported by moving water
Rivers can carry particles of all size
The greater the velocity, the larger the
particle size

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1-4 Soil Deposits

Transported soils
Alluvial deposits
As velocity decreases, the larger particle
will be deposited first followed by the
smaller ones
It is often composed of various soil types
because they tend to mix as the river
flows
This deposits tend to be layered because
settling rates are proportional to particle
size

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1-4 Soil Deposits

Transported soils
Glacial deposits
This deposits came from movements of
glaciers
As the glaciers move, everything in their
path was picked up and transported
Glacial deposits can contain all types of
soil as soils and rocks were crushed &
mixed together as they moved

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1-4 Soil Deposits

Transported soils
Glacial deposits
Often these soils make good materials
for construction and foundation
purposes because of the intense
compaction they have undergone
However, those containing mostly clay
are not as strong as often they are may
compressible

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1-4 Soil Deposits

Transported soils
Wind deposits
Wind can transport sandy soil particles
by rolling them along the ground or
sending them short distances through
the air and deposit as dunes
Fine-grained soils can remain airborne
over long distances
Presence of cohesion in clayey soils
reduces effect of wind erosion

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1-4 Soil Deposits

Conclusion:
It seldom occurs that a soil of the same
type occurs at all depth throughout a
construction site
Even if the soil at a site is of the same
deposit, its properties may vary from place
to place throughout the site

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1-4 Soil Deposits

Conclusion:
Subsurface investigation is very important
Combined with qualitative knowledge of
origin of soil(s), geotechnical engineers
can produce an adequate foundation
design against failure and undue settling

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